Special Report from App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State pitcher Alannah Hopkins recently completed her first season for the Mountaineers. She loves softball and will play whenever she can.

When an opportunity to play in the Florida Gulf Coast League came around, Hopkins knew that she couldn’t pass up a chance to play more softball.

“My time at the FGCL was an amazing experience,” Hopkins said. “I was able to compete with and against phenomenal athletes who were all there with a purpose.”

The Florida Gulf Coast League, a premier collegiate softball league that is composed of athletes from all divisions and conferences in the United States, gives players a chance to play competitive softball in the summer.

The competitive environment is what drew Hopkins to play in the league. She saw it as a challenge and an opportunity for her to prove her skills against elite competition.

“My favorite part about the league was the opportunity to compete against great teams multiple times,” she said. “It was an exciting challenge each time.”

Hopkins was a member of the Manatee Skeeters. The team played 23 games, and she helped lead them to their best finish in team history.

“I am so proud of our team for finishing in the top six in the regular season and fourth in the postseason tournament,” Hopkins said. “This was the best the team has done since the league started.”

Something More

The Sylva, N.C., native didn’t play in the Florida Gulf Coast League just to play more softball. She used the league as a chance to work on her craft and to come back to App State better prepared for the upcoming season.

“This opportunity will help me come back to school prepared for what the next year will bring,” she said. “Getting better and competing against great players will allow me to bring competitiveness, craft, mentality, and a renewed and amplified love of the game back to App State.”

One thing Hopkins especially relished from her time in the FGCL was a renewed love of softball.

“I realized that I loved the game even more because of the environment I was in,” Hopkins said. “We were all there for a reason, trying to get better, and playing hard. Nobody was afraid of failure; we were having a fun time playing the game.”

Hopkins was very pleased with the way she played and competed over the summer. She knows that her time in the FGCL will be a valuable experience for her as she prepares for the upcoming season. She continuea to work this offseason to grow her skills and prepare for what the next year will bring.

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• Florida Gulf Coast League

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By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Invite a legendary college football coach to play a round of golf and you are likely to have a very good day. Have that coach invite a dozen of his NCAA Division I peers to play, too, and you are likely to raise a lot of money for your favorite non-profit.

That is exactly what happened in May for the second year in a row when the High Country Caregivers non-profit partnered with former Appalachian State head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Moore to host the “Coaches Golf Tournament” in May, at Blowing Rock Country Club.

HCC executive director Jacob Willis announced on July 18 that the event took in more than $180,000 thanks in no small measure to the celebrity coaches, sponsors and, of course, the golfers paying for the privilege.

“High Country Caregivers is dedicated to helping families navigate kinship care,” said Willis. “We are currently serving 313 children and 254 caregivers, which is double the number we were serving a few years ago.”

The families that take part in HCC programs receive no government aid and are often composed of single grandmothers raising multiple children and making decisions for their grandchildren. All proceeds from the tournament go towards HCC programs, including recreation & sports fees, dance & music lessons, legal fees, education, and family development.

“Our goal is to rise above the challenges and keep loved ones in a home with a family member,” Willis said. “It’s a better environment than the foster system. We are dedicated to keeping these families whole so grandparents can make responsible decisions for their grandchildren while providing them with care and support.”

In addition to Moore’s involvement, a big draw for the sold-out tournament was the participation of Scott Satterfield (App State, Louisville, Cincinnati); Mack Brown (University of North Carolina, Texas, App State); Sparky Woods (Richmond, UNC, Alabama, Memphis, Mississippi State); Paul Johnson (Georgia Southern, Navy, Georgia State); Shawn Clark (current head coach, Appalachian State); Dave Doeren (head coach, NC State, Northern Illinois); Clay Hendrix (head coach, Furman University); Oval Jaynes (Hall of Fame athletic director at Auburn, Colorado State, Pittsburgh, Idaho, Chattanooga, Jacksonville State, former head coach at Gardner Webb, and former offensive coordinator at Wake Forest and Wyoming, among others); Dustin Kerns (head basketball coach, Appalachian State); Trey Kavanaugh (former head coach, Cuthbertson High School and now App State assistant, quality control); and Lance Ware (former head coach, Shelby High School and current Senior Assistant to Head Coach, App State). Each of the coaches was paired with a golfing foursome.

Willis shared that the list of sponsors is very large. “We would be remiss if we didn’t mention every one of them and offer them a great big thank you,” he said. “We also want to thank Coach Jerry Moore and all the coaches and athletes that took part in the tournament, and our guests. We could not have done this without our sponsors, guests, and community partners.”

Sponsoring the event were The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation, Blowing Rock Country Club, Blowing Rock Brewery, Amorem, Chetola Resort, LifeStore Bank and R.W. Baird.

­­­­Platinum Sponsors:

Spangler Restoration, CSM Production, The Art Cellar, Domino’s Pizza, Farm Bureau – Agent Barry Crawford, Quality Electric – Brent Berry, Village Building and Investment Group, High Country 365/Journey Magazine, Thrivent, Bishop Real Estate, Amorem, Appnet, Baird, UBS, The Lodges at Eagles Nest, Peak Farms, Hollar and Greene, Lifestore, and Avery Knife Works.

Gold Sponsors

CDG Brands, J McLaughlin, Appalachian Healthcare, Holiday Inn Blowing Rock, and Alpha Lit.

Silver Sponsors

Penn Station, Carolina West Wireless, Wendy’s, Highland Landscape Supplies, Elk River Club, and Jared Munday Electric.

Table Sponsors

The Gilded Lily by Patra, Life Worth Living Counseling – Bonnie Perkins, Appalachian Dental Care, and Ron Cutlip.

“We also want to thank Coach Jerry Moore and all the coaches and athletes that took part in the tournament,” said Willis. “And our guests. We could not have done this without our sponsors, guests, and community partners.”

High Country Caregivers operates in Avery, Watauga, Ashe, Yancy, Mitchell, and Wilkes counties.

By David Rogers. KINGSPORT, Tenn. and CANTON, Ohio — Members of Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance’s elite professional running team continue to rack up “top 5” finishes as the summer racing season heats up.

Andrew Colley edged at the finish line

In what World Athletics reports was Clayton Young’s first race of 2023, the 29-year-old Brigham Young University alum edged Andrew Colley by two seconds on July 15, taking home top honors in the USATF Men’s 8K National Road Race Championships. Colley is a veteran member of the ZAP Endurance elite running team, based in Blowing Rock.

The figure-8 course started outside of the historic J. Fred Johnson Stadium on Fort Henry Dr., then wound its way on and around Kingsport’s candle-lit streets before finishing inside the stadium on the campus of Dobyns-Bennett High School. The USATF National Championship was run in conjunction with the Crazy 8s 8K, on a course advertised as “…the world’s flattest and fastest 8K…”

Colley covered the distance in 22:49, just behind Young’s 22:47. Third place honors went to Isai Rodriguez of Ringwood, Okla., finishing just behind Colley in 22:50.

Young picked up the first place cash award of $5,000, Colley took home the second place prize of $3,000.

As most national championships are, it was a stacked field with some of road racing’s biggest names, including Emmanuel Bor (No. 4), Sam Chelanga (No. 7) and Connor Winter (No. 14).

Among the nearly 2,000 runners competing, ZAP Endurance marathoner Tyler Pennel got some speed work in while finishing No. 18, in 24:22.

Van Ord No. 5 in Canton, Ohio 6K

In a field of 23 elite women’s distance runners, it was another top 5 for ZAP Endurance when Tristin Van Ord finished No. 5 in the Women’s 6k Festival, split into the USA Track & Field’s elite, invitation-only division and a “community” division open to anyone.

Edna Kurgat of Colorado Springs, Colo. took home top honors, finishing the 6K distance in 18:28.11. Nell Rojas of Boulder, Colo., was No. 2 in 18:29.95, followed by Annie Rodenfels (Roslindale, Mass.) in 18:31.22 and Emma Grace Hurley (Atlanta, Ga.) in 18:32.86. Van Ord was just 10 seconds behind the winner, in 18:38.23, battling in the end with Emily Lipari (Kailua, Hawaii), clocked at 18:38.26.

The top five in the open division won cash awards ranging from Kurgat’s $500 to Van Ord’s $100.

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By David Rogers. LEXINGTON, Ky. — Both on the court and in the classroom, Appalachian State University’s volleyball team excelled in the 2022-23 academic year. With a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.59, the team earned the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association “Team Academic Award,” the organizations announced on July 13.

The App State award reflects a nationwide trend in emphasizing the “student” in student athlete as a record-setting 1,332 collegiate and high school volleyball teams garnered recognition for their efforts in the classroom since the award was initiated during the 1992-93 academic year. To be eligible, teams must maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.

On the court in 2022-23, App State also excelled, going 18-10 (11-5 in the Sun Belt Conference) last year during head coach Sarah Rumely Noble’s first season at the helm. The team’s season-long performance included six sweeps being victorious in seven five-set thrillers. From Oct. 6 to Nov. 12, The Mountaineers won 11 of 12 matches, the best stretch of play for App State since a program-tying 16 straight wins during the 2015 campaign, according to the team’s strategic communications staff.

The 2023 season will start with the Mountaineer Classic on Aug. 25 and 26. App State will host a second tournament, the Black & Gold Invitational, on Sept. 7-9. The Mountaineers will also host eight conference matches in the Holmes Convocation Center this fall. Season tickets are on sale now.

By Bobby Neal. BOONE, N.C. — App State softball has finalized the 2023-24 roster with the addition of four transfer student-athletes, head coach Shelly Hoerner announced Friday.

“We are excited to add these four individuals to our App State softball family,” Hoerner said. “They all are proven winners and will bring a competitive mindset to our program. Their collegiate softball experience will continue to elevate what we are building here in Boone, immediately. With our returnees and incoming freshmen, these four will be a great addition. As we went through the recruiting process with them, we quickly found out that their values, on and off the field, align with what we believe in for our program.”

Olivia Cook
Junior Infielder / South Carolina / Sharpsburg, Ga. / East Coweta High School

Cook spent the first two years of her collegiate career at South Carolina, where she made 41 appearances and scored 15 runs as a pinch runner with three stolen bases. She capped off her sophomore season with a run after a stolen base to help the Gamecocks earn their second of three wins in the NCAA regionals. She also started one game at third base during her freshman year.

In the 2023 Florida Gulf Coast League, Cook led all players in RBI throughout the summer and finished second in the league in doubles.

Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Cook shined at East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Ga., lettering all four years on her way to being selected to the All-Region Team in 2019 and an honorable mention in 2018. She helped lead East Coweta to three state championships. Cook was an FCA Leader in 2019 and 2020, and attended the Chick Fil A Leadership Academy in 2018. She ranked as the 49th-best infielder in the class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball.

“Olivia has been around some of the best softball in the country the past two years and has made an impact in the FGCL this summer,” Hoerner said. “Offensively, she produced an abundance in Florida and we look for that to continue adding more power to our lineup. Her experience in the infield will elevate our program, whether it’s behind the plate, or on the corners.”

Peyton Darnell
Graduate Catcher / USC Upstate / Fort Mill, S.C. / Indian Land High School

The 2022 Big South Player of the Year is coming to the High Country after playing at USC Upstate for four years. Darnell has racked up a plethora of honors, including, 3x Big South All-Conference First Team, 4x Big South Player of the Week, 2022 2x NFCA Top Performer, 2022 NFCA DI Southeast All-Region Third Team, 2021 Big South All-Tournament Team, 2021 Big South All-Freshman Team, and was a 4x Big South Freshman of the Week.

Darnell helped the Spartans to a winning record in all of the last four years while also going three games deep into the Big South tournament in every season except for 2020, when the season was cut short due to Covid-19.

“Peyton had a terrific career and was one of the best to have played at USC Upstate,” Hoerner said. “We feel blessed that she chose App State and Boone to play her fifth year. She will make an immediate impact with her big bat and leadership skills behind the plate. I remember watching her years ago, and her fierce competitiveness was one of the things I loved about her.”

Neveah Hildebrandt
Junior Outfielder / Kirkwood Community College / Sabula, Iowa / Northeast High School

In her freshman season at Kirkwood, Hildebrandt helped lead the Eagles to a third place finish in the NJCAA DII World Series after recording 44 runs and 44 hits in 43 appearances. With a .328 batting average, she registered 10 home runs and 35 RBI while stealing 19 bases.

In her sophomore year, Hildebrandt improved across the board, tallying 60 runs, 58 hits, 12 home runs, 11 doubles, three triples and 43 RBI. She also doubled her stolen base count to 38 while batting .307 in 62 games played. Kirkwood finished the 2023 season with a top-8 placement in the NJCAA DII World Series.

“Neveah will bring immediate speed to our team and will cover a lot of ground in the outfield,” Hoerner said. “Her blue-collar work ethic and softball IQ make her a complete player, both at the plate and in the outfield. She can hit for average and for power, which will blend in nicely with our lineup.”

Killian Roberts
Junior Infielder / Volunteer State / Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Blackman High School
Roberts started 51 games for the Pioneers during the 2023 season, totaling 70 hits, 66 runs, 21 home runs, 11 doubles and two triples. She also amassed 72 RBI, 33 walks and stole 13 bases. Roberts batted .427 with a slugging percentage of .902, earning a spot on the all-conference team.

Prior to her time at Volunteer State, Roberts spent her freshman year at Belmont. In high school, she received the 7-AAA All-District Award, was named to the AAA All-State Middle Tennessee Team, and was a member of the TNSCA All-Star Team.

“A true utility with a powerful bat,” Hoerner said. “Killian will be a great addition to our program. She comes from a winning program where her success at the plate stood out this season. We look forward to her bringing that confidence she plays with daily to the mountains.”

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• App State Softball

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By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was Star Wars Night at Smith Stadium for the Coastal Plain League contest between the Boone Bigfoots and the Asheboro Zookeepers. None of the “good guys” — Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Han Solo, Obiwan Konobi, etc. — could prevent the Dark Side from enveloping Beaver Field as the Bigfoots were caged by the Zookeepers, 11-0.

Far from lightsabers, the Boone bats might just as well have been chicken drumsticks. The Force certainly wasn’t with the Bigfoots on this night in front of an otherwise enthusiastic crowd.

Tall and lanky at 6-4, 152 lbs., the Zookeepers’ starting pitcher, Ethan Snyder (North Carolina A & T) had an impressive outing, going six full innings while giving up no runs on just three hits, walking three, with nine strikeouts.

While both teams stranded six runners left on base over the course of the run-rule shortened, seven-inning contest, the Zookeepers were able to get just short of a dozen other runners around. The visitors got doubles from the bottom of their batting order: designated hitter Todd Hudson, right fielder Jarrett Pokrovsky, and catcher Jake Holland. Meanwhile, leadoff batter and second baseman Jay Dillard might well have been the focal point of the Zookeepers’ offense, with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs.

The Boone boys will attempt to reverse their fortunes on Saturday, July 15, on the road against the Forest City Owls, which won the first half of the Coastal Plain League’s West Division with a 14-8 record. For the second half, the Owls are currently in third place at 5-6, behind the Lexington County Blowfish (7-1) and Zookeepers (4-3).

At 4-6 for the second half, the Bigfoots are in the mix, but currently in sixth place. They finished the first half of the season in fourth place (10-12). For the league championship, the first half winner plays the second half winner.

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• Coastal Plain League standings

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• Bigfoots edge Mustangs
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By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A strong pitching performance by Jay Dill kept the Boone  bats all but silenced on June 12, as HP-Thomasville powered to a dominating, 6-2 win over the Bigfoots.

Dill, who plays baseball for Clemson University during the school year, was on the mound for seven innings for the HiToms. The 6-5, 250 lb. starter was hurling 93-95 mph fast balls with ease, mixing in the occasional curve and slider in allowing no runs on four hits, issuing just one walk while striking out seven Bigfoots batters. In all, Dill faced 24 batters and threw 111 pitches, 75 of them strikes (68 percent).

Dill’s counterpart on the mound for the Bigfoots, Walter Case, kept the game within reach by allowing just three runs on four hits in five innings of work, and much of the HiToms’ offensive production was the result of fielding errors by the Boone defenders (three errors while Case was on the mound, a total of six fielding errors for the game).

With the score still at 3-0 going into the bottom half of the 8th inning, the Bigfoots rallied with Dill’s absence, scoring two runs off HiToms relief pitcher, Joseph Ariola, with shortstop Carlos Amezquita figuring prominently in each. After second baseman Kai Wagner walked, Amezquita rapped a triple over the outstretched glove of the HiToms right fielder, then trotted home on an infield single by Tyson Bass. But that was it as Ariola settled down to get out of a 2-out, bases-load jam by striking out Boone’s Max Weller on four pitches.

The deficit tightened at 3-2, there was hope among the Bigfoots faithful that the High Country’s finest would stage a ninth inning rally to win the important Coastal Plain League game, but that was not to be. Offensively, the HiToms exploded for three runs on five hits in the top of the ninth to put the game all but away, then HP-Thomasville’s Ariola kept any Bigfoots thoughts of a game-winning rally at bay, helped out by an awkward baserunning error when Kai Wagner got caught in an indecisive pickle after the HiToms’ shortstop mishandled an infield pop-up.

The recent Major League Baseball draft provided bittersweet news for the Boone Bigfoots. Two all-star teammates, Nadir Lewis and Jalen Vasquez were both selected in the draft — Lewis by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round and Vasquez by the Baltimore Orioles, also in the 20th round. While it was good to see their peers going professional, the Bigfoots were left without the services of two valuable teammates who made major contributions this summer, both in the field and at the plate.

The Bigfoots will look to get back on track Friday, July 14, when they host the Asheboro Zookeepers at Smith Stadium, with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

KEY OFFENSIVE PRODUCERS

• HTM – Kane Kepley, 1-2, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2B, 3 walks, 2 stolen bases
• BFT – Carlos Amezquita: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 3B

BONUS PHOTOS

By Matt Present for App State Sports. SEATTLE, Wash. – App State right-handed pitcher Xander Hamilton has been selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB First Year Player’s Draft.

Hamilton becomes the 46th App State player to be drafted by a Major League organization and the fifth in the Kermit Smith era.

Completes big season in 2023

The Raleigh, N.C., native enjoyed a record-breaking season for the Mountaineers in 2023. Hamilton set the program’s single-season strikeout record with 115, ranking 17th in the nation, while leading the Sun Belt at the conclusion of the regular season.

Hamilton’s 115 strikeouts came in just 87.2 innings, and he held opponents to a .257 batting average.

A first-team all-conference selection, Hamilton’s season was highlighted by his performance against No. 8 Coastal Carolina on May 5. That evening in Conway, S.C., Hamilton struck out a school-record 15 batters and yielded just one hit in a career-high eight innings. Hamilton also fanned a then-career-high 13 against Louisiana on March 31, earning Sun Belt player of the Week honors after both outings.

Hamilton struck out at least nine batters in seven of his 16 starts on the season. He finished the year with an 8-4 record, tying him for 10th on App State’s single-season wins list. He boasted a 6-1 mark in Sun Belt play, and the Mountaineers went 11-5 overall in his outings.

The Virginia Tech transfer got off to a sensational start in 2022, earning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honors after an App State debut in which he struck out 10 batters in 6.1 innings against Campbell on opening weekend. Hamilton struck out 51 batters across his first five outings in a Black and Gold uniform, placing him second in the nation five weeks into the season. He finished the year with 62 strikeouts in 43.2 innings despite having his season cut short due to injury.

Hamilton was named the Cap 7 Pitcher of the Year as a high school senior for Needham B. Broughton, where he recorded a 5-3 record, a 1.80 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Hamilton made nine appearances in two seasons with the Hokies before transferring to App State in the fall of 2021.

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By Zach Smith. MARTINSVILLE, Va. – On a late night delayed by a broken down bus, the Boone Bigfoots relied on lengthy bullpen appearances and late game heroics to steal a thrilling, 9-8 victory over Martinsville.

The contest featured three lead changes going into the ninth inning, but Brayden Simpson ripped a 2-run double to put the ‘Foots on top before their last out. In the home half of the final frame, relief pitcher Zach Lewis shut the door on the Mustangs, earning three crucial outs on the way to his first save of the season.

Entering the contest, the CPL announced rosters for its annual All-Star Game, and both sides got to showcase their respective representatives. The Bigfoots’ selections are Nadir Lewis, Tyson Bass, Carlos Amezquita and Cordarius Butler.

Boone took a 5-4 lead after the first three innings in what looked to be an early, offensive shootout. Bats on both sides stagnated, though, as the next run wouldn’t be scored until the seventh inning. The Bigfoots extended their lead by tacking on another run but Martinsville tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. The Mustangs then took a one run lead in the eighth thanks to some defensive miscues by the ‘Foots.

Crunch Time

Boone entered the ninth inning with a one run deficit — looking to get its bats hot and stage a late, come-from-behind rally.

And they did. After a leadoff flyout, Lewis singled and Weller saw just one strike on his way to first via a walk. Wallace followed with a long fly ball to center, which moved both runners into scoring position when they made a risky decision to tag up and run on the centerfielder’s catch. Then, with the Bigfoots down to their last out, Simpson provided the decisive blow, knocking in both Lewis and Weller to push the Bigfoots in front — transforming the one-run deficit at the beginning of the inning and making it a one-run lead after the last out.

Martinsville still had one more opportunity to tie or get ahead to win the game but looked defeated already. And yet, that didn’t stop Carmichael from hitting a single to give the Virginians a glimmer of hope. Reese Robinett then put his body on the line, taking the Mustangs’ third hit-by-pitch of the game and a free pass to first base. It also put Carmichael in scoring position with the potential tying run at second base.

Boone went to the bullpen for the final time, bringing App State product Zach Lewis to the mound for a “save” opportunity. True to form, Lewis retired the next three batters on just seven pitches to solidify the win for the visitors and earn the save.

Coach has high praise

Bigfoots head coach Randall Ortiz was asked postgame about the bullpen’s ability to get the job done.

“My plan with [Jackson] Kirkpatrick was, go at least three, four innings. Of course, that didn’t work out today, but the bullpen today came big,” Ortiz said. “Guys like Nate Crissey, Parker [Kruglewicz] and Zach at the end. I think they definitely helped us win today’s game.”

Catcher Rhogue Wallace’s consistency at the plate in recent contests was also brought up by an elated Ortiz.

“He’s been the guy, he’s been swinging (the bat) well for us when he plays,” Ortiz said “Especially tonight, he had a great game. He was trying to put the ball in play every time and it definitely paid off for him.”

Ortiz also spoke on the dugout’s reaction to Simpson’s go ahead double, and what Simpson has brought to the team lately.

“It was a huge reaction from the dugout,” Ortiz said. “Lately, the past two or three weeks he got a lot better, competing on the at-bats and not a lot of swings and misses. He’s done a great job lately and that last inning was huge.”

Boone’s win improves the team record to 4-3 while Martinsville falls to 1-4. The Bigfoots are back at Smith Stadium on Wednesday at 6:30pm for a matchup against the visiting High Point- Thomasville HiToms.